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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Effect of nitrogen nutrition on Medicago truncatula resistance against Aphanomyces euteiches

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Nitrogen (N) is a major limiting factor for plant growth. N availability can also impact plant resistance to pathogens by regulating plant immunity. To better understand the links between N nutrition and plant defense, we analyzed the impact of N availability of plant on Medicago truncatula resistance to the root pathogen, Aphanomyces euteiches, taking into account plant genetic variability. This oomycete is considered as the most limiting factor for legume production. Two conditions of N nutrition, non-limiting or deprived in N, and ten plant genotypes were tested in vitro. The results showed that the resistance is modulated by nutritional conditions, depending on plant genotype. Analysis of the expression of genes involved in N metabolism and defense and quantification of different amino-acids contents and secondary metabolic compounds showed different responses of the genotypes and highlighted a potential role of glutamine in this pathosystem. Furthermore, our work underlined the importance of nitric oxide (NO) homeostasis for M. truncatula resistance to A. euteiches and that N availability impacts NO homeostasis by affecting S-nitrosothiol levels and S-nitrosoglutathione reductase activity in roots. These studies highlight, therefore, the importance of N metabolism and its interaction with plant genotype in defense responses in M. truncatula.